Page 301 - persuasion

There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in
the discernment of character, a natural penetration, in
short, which no experience in others can equal, and Lady
Russell had been less gifted in this part of understanding
than her young friend. But she was a very good woman, and
if her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her
first was to see Anne happy. She loved Anne better than she
loved her own abilities; and when the awkwardness of the
beginning was over, found little hardship in attaching her-
self as a mother to the man who was securing the happiness
of her other child.
Of all the family, Mary was probably the one most im-
mediately gratified by the circumstance. It was creditable to
have a sister married, and she might flatter herself with hav-
ing been greatly instrumental to the connexion, by keeping
Anne with her in the autumn; and as her own sister must
be better than her husband’s sisters, it was very agreeable
that Captain Wentworth should be a richer man than either
Captain Benwick or Charles Hayter. She had something to
suffer, perhaps, when they came into contact again, in see-
ing Anne restored to the rights of seniority, and the mistress
of a very pretty landaulette; but she had a future to look for-
ward to, of powerful consolation. Anne had no Uppercross
Hall before her, no landed estate, no headship of a family;
and if they could but keep Captain Wentworth from be-
ing made a baronet, she would not change situations with
Anne.
It would be well for the eldest sister if she were equally
satisfied with her situation, for a change is not very proba-

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